The Walters Art Museum board of trustees on Monday announced that Kate Burgin, a former deputy director at the museum, will return as its new executive director and CEO.Burgin will start in her new role in late-January 2025, succeeding former director Julia Marciari-Alexander, who stepped down after 11 years in September to become president of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.“The Walters is an incredible institution, a central part of the art ecosystem in Baltimore and Maryland, and the opportunity to collaborate with our great team through the next phase of change at the Walters is an incredible honor and privilege,” Burgin told Baltimore Fishbowl.Peter L. Bain, president of the Walters Art Museum’s Board of Trustees, praised Burgin both for her previous tenure with the museum as well as her experiences in other fields.“I am thrilled that Kate Burgin will join the Walters as our new Executive Director and CEO,” Bain said in a statement. “It is truly extraordinary that among the remarkable pool of candidates—distinguished by their exceptional quality, diverse experiences, and impressive expertise from across the nation—the ideal choice for this vital role was right here in Baltimore. Kate’s vision, leadership, and deep connection to our institution make her uniquely suited for this position. Having spent several years away gaining valuable experience in other sectors, she brings fresh ideas and innovative approaches that will undoubtedly help advance the Walters’ mission.”Burgin first joined the Walters in 2016 and served in multiple executive roles at the museum, including most recently as deputy director.In 2022, she joined Catalyte, a Baltimore-based technology services and workforce development company, where she currently serves as President of Talent Stream.The museum’s board of trustees selected Burgin after a seven-month national search.“This was a highly competitive national search, and Kate emerged as the clear and unanimous choice,” said Sheila Vidmar, a Walters trustee and search committee chair, in a statement. “Her passion for the arts and their ability to enrich lives, combined with her deep commitment to Baltimore, made her stand out among an impressive field of candidates. We are excited to welcome her back to the Walters and are confident that her leadership will have a transformative impact on the museum and the broader community.”A native of Sacramento, California, Burgin has lived in Baltimore for the past 14 years. Part of what she loves about Baltimore is its rich cultural fabric.She hopes to strengthen the Walters’ existing partnerships with fellow cultural institutions and foster new relationships.“As a 14-year Baltimore resident, one of my absolutely favorite things of Baltimore is the incredible array of cultural institutions, including our museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, MICA, AVAM, as well as the incredible community of artists and galleries here in Baltimore,” she said. “Continuing to partner and build new partnerships is going to bea key priority.”During her time at Catalyte, Burgin has led efforts to expand career opportunities in technology fields for people from underrepresented backgrounds.Amid fast-paced changes among technology sectors, Burgin said it has been important to not only focus on the in-demand jobs of today, but also potential job opportunities of the future.Organizations must ensure that “as technology changes and as our society changes, team members from underrepresented communities aren’t left behind in that change and can thrive in that change,” she said.Among its services, Catalyte works with organizations to “implement AI across functions securely, ethically and productively,” according to the company’s website.Burgin acknowledged that artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and obstacles for museums and the art world at large.“I’m eager to dive in with our team and explore this topic of how AI can help us to enhance our experiences with visitors, and how we can partner with Baltimore’s growing tech ecosystem to develop solutions there, while at the same time being very mindful of some of the risks that AI creates for organizations across all sectors,” she said.While technology can assist work at the Walters, Burgin highlighted the human contributors inside and outside the museum who have been key to the institution’s success.The “Ethiopia at the Crossroads” exhibition, which premiered at the Walters in December 2023 and went on to be displayed at Peabody Essex Museum and Toledo Museum of Art, was recently named Apollo Magazine’s “Exhibition of the Year.”Spanning 1,250 years of history in Ethiopia and the surrounding region, the exhibition drew connections between artworks from the museum’s collection as well as items on loan. It provided an immersive sensory experience for attendees, with a mixture of vibrant visuals, audio recordings, and even scratch-and-sniff cards with scents of cultural significance.As director, Burgin said she looks forward to working with the Walters’ curators, conservators, educators and other team members to continue exploring creative ways of showcasing art.“What the museum has done really well, and what we will continue to do, is to focus on two things: one is a very much cross-collaborative approach. But secondly, is listening to and being in dialogue with all of the communities and audiences that we wish to serve. I think ‘Ethiopia at the Crossroads’ is a great example of that by bringing in new voices to participate in the exhibition development process.”During her first tenure with the Walters, Burgin helped increase outreach to the wider Baltimore community by creating new Visitor Experience and Learning & Community Engagement departments. She said she plans to continue expanding the museum’s public outreach and engagement.Burgin also brings 13 years of consulting experience with the Technical Development Corporation and The Boston Consulting Group, working both with non-profit and for-profit organizations. She hopes to harness those skills in her new role.“It’s just in my DNA as a leader to be able to work with diverse stakeholders, to develop new visions, to tackle big thorny opportunities through new approaches, to build and galvanize resources, but also to do so in a way in which it builds culture and builds teams and empowers team members to love the journey we’re on through that process.”In the years ahead, Burgin envisions the Walters continuing its commitment to being a space for all.“I see a vision for the Walters that builds on our commitment to open access, in which we are a destination in Baltimore and Maryland for innovation and gathering and growth through the power of our extraordinary collection,” she said. “And in doing so, we not only strengthen the museum but also the broader art ecosystem, and we can help support Baltimore City and the state schools for a thriving arts community, learning community, and economy.”